Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Any loft conversion which includes habitable accommodation is likely to add around 30%
to the existing foundation loading, much of this being transferred to the foundations via
lintels over windows and doors which will probably only have been calculated to carry a
conventional load from the roof. Consequently, any conversion will have a significant ef-
fect on the structure below and as most bungalows have the same external load bearing
wall construction as a two storey house, there is unlikely to be a problem with the wall it-
self; attention will have to be paid, however, to such items as the lintels, as explained
above.
Checklist for Survey
Location of foundations of existing external walls and load bearing partitions;
The type of wall construction for existing external walls and partitions;
The type and specification of existing lintels over windows and doors;
Direction and size of floor joists on the ground floor, if any, thus helping to establish
which partitions are load bearing;
Direction, size and spacing of existing ceiling joists;
Size and spacing of existing rafters and other roof timber components;
Accurate dimensions of the existing building not just on plan but all elevations likely to be
affected by the conversion;
Accurate heights of all rooms, thicknesses of ceiling zone, shape of roof space and loca-
tions of any purlin supports that may be in the existing roof structure;
Accurate location within the plan of any services in the loft area, such as chimney stacks,
soil and vent pipes, water storage tanks and all service pipes. It must be remembered that
some or all of these may have to be moved as part of the conversion.
Plans and Specification
From the above survey produce a full set of drawings to include:
Scale plan not less than 1:50 scale;
